Democrats plan to sabotage Trump's State of the Union address with boycotts, protests and alternative events

President Donald Trump's upcoming address to Congress, scheduled for Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. EST, promises to be much more than just an exposition of policies and accomplishments.

In an atmosphere of increasing political polarization, the event has sparked a series of reactions among Democrats, ranging from an organized boycott with an alternative event to plans for disruptions inside the Capitol grounds.

Meanwhile, through its press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, the White House has responded with a clear message: It invites opposing lawmakers to reconsider their stance and applaud the president's accomplishments.

A Democratic boycott takes shape: the alternative event

A significant group of Democratic lawmakers has decided to turn their backs on the traditional presidential address and not attend the joint Congressional session. Instead of taking their seats on Capitol Hill, these lawmakers will participate in a side event to counter Trump's message.

According to a press release  by Representative Becca Balint (D-VT), this initiative will include "programming that will provide real-time fact-checking, a Democratic pre-buttal and live reactions." The event will be streamed via YouTube and begin at 8:15 p.m., just 45 minutes before Trump takes the floor.

Balint, who is leading this alternative response, will be joined by a notable group of Democratic senators, including Angela Alsobrooks (D-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI). Other lawmakers will also join the broadcast.

According to the release, the goal is to provide a platform that not only criticizes Trump's speech, but also provides an alternative narrative for Americans following the event from home.

In his remarks, Balint spared no criticism of the president. “I watched as the President swore an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution. I won’t sit and watch him lie to the American people again," he firmly expressed in the press release.

Reminiscing about her attendance at Trump's recent inauguration, Balint explained that she participated in that event because she deeply believes in "the peaceful transfer of power." However, she added, "but Trump spewed lies, stoked division and fear and made no effort to unify our country”.  For her, tonight's speech will be no different.

“There is no doubt tonight’s presidential address will be more of the same", she said, underlining that her decision to host this live conversation is "the best way for me to use my voice for Vermonters."

According to Balint, her constituents "they are sick of the lies and Trump’s complete and utter disregard for our Constitution."

Other Democrats have followed suit, publicly announcing their intention to absent themselves. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), known for her progressive stance and strong social media presence, confirmed Tuesday that she will not attend Trump's speech. While she did not offer specifics about her alternative plans, her decision reinforces a trend among some party members to reject a physical presence on Capitol Hill that night.

Senator Martin Henrich (D-MN) also joined the boycott with a blunt statement, "I will attend the president's speeches before Congress “when he starts following the law."

For her part, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) detailed her plans for Tuesday night in a post on the platform X. "Instead of attending Trump’s SOTU, I’m speaking with constituents of mine like Scott, a disabled veteran who worked at VA helping to house homeless veterans," she wrote.

On Monday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) tried to set a different tone for his party. In a call to his colleagues, Jeffries urged Democrats to maintain a "strong, determined and dignified" presence during Trump's speech, suggesting that attending the event could be an opportunity to show unity and resilience in the face of the president. However, his words failed to prevent defections.

Jeffries opted not to follow his own advice and announced his absence in a post on Bluesky: “I’m not going to the Joint Address. I will be live posting and chatting with you all here instead. Then going on IG Live after.”

Plans for protests inside the venue

While one group of Democrats opts for a boycott, another segment of the party plans to attend the speech but with clear intentions to disrupt it. According to a report published Tuesday by Axios, some far-left lawmakers are considering a variety of disruptive tactics to make their discontent heard during Trump's address.

The most radical ideas include a full retreat of Democratic aides from the venue at a key moment in the speech and the use of rattles to drown out the president's words, ensuring that his message does not come through without audible opposition.

In addition, there is the possibility of lawmakers bringing egg cartons to Capitol Hill as a visual symbol to highlight the high costs facing Americans, an issue Democrats have frequently criticized under the Trump administration.

Others have suggested carrying protest signs with specific messages, a tactic used in previous presidential speeches to capture the attention of cameras and the public. There has also been talk of coordinating attire among Democratic attendees as a way to send a unified message without the need for words.

Several Democratic caucuses have taken the lead in this strategy of symbolic attire. The Democratic Women's Caucus is encouraging its members to wear pink, a color they have used in the past to highlight issues related to women's rights and gender equality. Meanwhile, the Congressional Black Caucus is debating the possibility of showing up wearing black, a choice that could symbolize mourning or resistance in the face of Trump's policies that they see as harmful to African American communities.

Other lawmakers have proposed wearing blue and yellow, the shades of the Ukrainian flag, as a show of solidarity with Ukraine amid the controversy over the pause in aid to that country, an issue that could also come up during Trump's speech.

The White House responds: The message from Karoline Leavitt

Amid this whirlwind of boycott and protest plans, the White House has not stood idly. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared Tuesday on Fox & Friends to address reports of Democratic actions and offer a perspective from the Trump team.

Leavitt reacted explicitly to reports of possible disruptions during the speech and dismissed the allegations.

"I think, frankly, the Democrats should think about if they should stand up in applause for some of the things President Trump will be talking about," Leavitt said during the interview.

"He's bringing common sense back to this country." To back up her argument, the press secretary pointed to a recent Senate vote, "Look at Democrats: yesterday, 45 Senate Dems voted against keeping men out of women's sports. How can you be against that when 80% of the country is for it?"

A stage fraught with symbolism and division

Trump's address to Congress, which will bring together members of both parties in the House and Senate, is shaping up to be a hugely signifcant moment in his presidency. However, beyond the president's words, the event will be marked by the actions (or absence) of Democrats.

From the alternative event led by Becca Balint and her colleagues, through protest tactics ranging from rattles to egg cartons, to the decision of prominent figures such as Hakeem Jeffries and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to connect directly with their audiences online, Tuesday night will be a reflection of the deep divisions running through the country.